One large fire occurred in the Protection Area during the reporting period:

Ethan Allen (Atoka County) – A squirrel shorted out a power line to spark this blaze that burned approximately 320 acres two miles northeast of Atoka. Oklahoma Forestry Services dispatched four firefighters, two Type 3 Dozers and two Type 6 Engines to control the wildfire. The Atoka Fire Department provided mutual-aid assistance. Several structures were threatened, but none lost to the fire.

* Protection Area Statistics do not reflect local fire department’s fire run information. Statistics are for the ODAFF-Forestry Services’ eighteen county Fire Protection Area in eastern Oklahoma unless otherwise noted in the Discussion section of this report.

Statewide Discussion: Initial attack was light yesterday across the state. One large fire is on-going in the Protection Area at the time of this report. One request for State assistance was received yesterday and one large fire is on-going outside of the Protection Area:

Ferguson (Comanche County) – A National Type 1 Incident Management Team (McGowan) is in place and managing the incident for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Several structures have been destroyed. Structures and communities remain threatened and evacuations are in effect. Approximately 39,000 acres have burned and the fire is 70% contained as of yesterday evening. The cause of the fire is under investigation. For more information on this incident, click on the following link for InciWeb: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2582/

Millerton (McCurtain County) – The Millerton Fire Department requested assistance from the Forestry Services’ Southeast Area on a wildfire that occurred yesterday three miles north of Millerton. Two Forestry Services firefighters equipped with one Type 2 Dozer and one Type 6 Engine controlled this fire that burned 2 acres in s terrain. This incendiary-caused wildfire occurred east of Messer near Hugo Lake.

Fire Danger will be high to very high across the state. Relative humidity is forecast to range from the low teens to mid-20%. Winds will be northerly, sustained at 5-10 mph with higher gusts. Temperatures are expected to reach into low 70s to upper 80s. Wildland fuels remain critically dry in the majority of Oklahoma. Any fire that starts today will burn very intensely and exhibit moderate to rapid rates of spread. If a fire starts where wind and terrain align, expect rapid rates of spread. Short to mid-range spotting is possible with today’s fire weather.

A Governor’s Burn Ban remains in effect for 61 counties. Several County Burn Bans are in effect. For current Burn Ban information click on the following link: